THE NATIONAL BUSINESS - AT 7:53 P.M. ET:  There's an old saying that Americans have two businesses, their own and show business.  Show business makes news, and Americans are riveted.  Farrah Fawcett died today, after a struggle with cancer.  But even on her dying day she couldn't get the individual starring role, as Michael Jackson died hours later.  I felt more sorry about Farrah, who suffered greatly, and who tried, over the years, to constantly improve herself as an actress.  Underneath the glamour, she was the real thing, and deserved more credit.

I've been monitoring the news networks.  It's all Michael, all the time.  He was a phenomenon, rather than a great artist.  I can't say that I cared for his music, which was directed at kids.  However, he was an entertainer in the great sense of that term, and had the good sense to work with Quincy Jones in building his career.  I guess there'll be an autopsy, but his death, according to first reports, was sudden and natural. 

Coming a few days after the death of Ed McMahon, we see three pictures of show business.  Ed, the second banana, represented traditionalism.  Basic meat-and-potatoes entertainment for grown-ups.  Farrah was the consummate female "movie star," an image that is hard to forget.  Her famous poster recalled the pinups of Betty Grable and Rita Hayworth.  Michael Jackson was the minority, who came along when minorities could become stars in their own right, cross over to entertain whites, and use the same entrance used by everyone else. 

All three will be missed in their own way.  But Ed, who died at 86, achieved longevity.  The others did not. 

June 25, 2009